Ryoji Noyori

Ryoji Noyori was a preeminent Japanese chemist whose groundbreaking work in asymmetric catalysis fundamentally transformed synthetic organic chemistry. He is best known for developing highly efficient chiral catalysts, most famously the BINAP-ruthenium complexes, which enabled the practical and industrial-scale synthesis of optically active compounds. For these achievements, he was jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2001 with William S. Knowles and K. Barry Sharpless. His career was primarily based at Nagoya University and the scientific institute RIKEN, where he served as president.

Early life and education

Ryoji Noyori was born on September 3, 1938, in Kobe, during the final years of the Empire of Japan. His father, a chemist working for a local company, fostered an early interest in science. Noyori attended Kyoto University, where he earned his bachelor's degree in 1961 and his doctorate in 1967 under the supervision of Professor Hitosi Nozaki. His doctoral research involved the study of carbene chemistry and organometallic reactions, laying a foundation for his future investigations. Following his PhD, he conducted postdoctoral research at Harvard University with the eminent chemist Elias James Corey, an experience that profoundly influenced his approach to synthetic methodology.

Scientific career and research

Noyori began his independent academic career as an associate professor at Nagoya University in 1968, becoming a full professor in 1972. His most celebrated research centered on the design and application of chiral transition metal catalysts for asymmetric hydrogenation. In the early 1980s, his group achieved a landmark breakthrough by introducing BINAP, a chiral diphosphine ligand, in combination with ruthenium complexes. These catalysts allowed for the highly enantioselective reduction of a wide range of substrates, including functionalized ketones and olefins. This methodology, known as the Noyori asymmetric hydrogenation, found immediate and extensive application in the industrial production of pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and fragrances, such as the antibiotic levofloxacin and the flavoring agent menthol. His work extended to asymmetric isomerization and carbon-carbon bond forming reactions, cementing his reputation as a leader in the field of green chemistry and sustainable synthesis.

Awards and honors

Noyori received numerous prestigious international awards in recognition of his contributions to chemistry. The pinnacle of his recognition came in 2001 when he shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry with William S. Knowles and K. Barry Sharpless for their work on chirally catalyzed hydrogenation and oxidation reactions. That same year, he was also awarded the Wolf Prize in Chemistry. Other notable honors include the Japan Academy Prize (1995), the Order of Culture (2005), which was presented by the Emperor of Japan, and the Sir Derek Barton Gold Medal (2012). He held memberships in esteemed societies such as the Japan Academy, the United States National Academy of Sciences, and the Royal Society.

Personal life and legacy

Noyori married Hiroko Ōshima in 1963, and the couple had two sons. He was known as a dedicated mentor who trained generations of chemists at Nagoya University. From 2003 to 2015, he served as the president of RIKEN, Japan's largest comprehensive research institution, where he championed interdisciplinary science and ethical research conduct. His legacy endures not only through his scientific discoveries but also through his profound influence on the global chemical community, advocating for the role of basic science in solving societal problems. He passed away on April 6, 2021, in Nagoya.

Selected publications

* Noyori, R.; Ohkuma, T. "Asymmetric Catalysis by Architectural and Functional Molecular Engineering: Practical Chemo- and Stereoselective Hydrogenation of Ketones" Angewandte Chemie International Edition (2001). * Noyori, R. "Asymmetric Catalysis in Organic Synthesis" (John Wiley & Sons, 1994). * Kitamura, M.; Ohkuma, T.; Inoue, S.; Sayo, N.; Kumobayashi, H.; Akutagawa, S.; Ohta, T.; Takaya, H.; Noyori, R. "Homogeneous Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Functionalized Ketones" Journal of the American Chemical Society (1988). * Noyori, R.; Takaya, H. "BINAP: An Efficient Chiral Element for Asymmetric Catalysis" Accounts of Chemical Research (1990).

Category:Japanese chemists Category:Nobel laureates in Chemistry Category:Recipients of the Order of Culture